Electric connecter



Jan. 21, 1936. H. H. WERMINE 2,028,367

l v ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed sept.r 4, 1929 2 sheets-sheet i Jan. 2l,1936. H. H. WERMINE 2,28,367

' ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed Sept. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hugof Wernu'fwW *faggi/5.

Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED ISTATES PATENT CF1-ICE lELECTRIC CONNECTERHugo 1I. Wermine., Villa Park, lll., assignor to Belden ManufacturingCompany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September4, 1929,Serial No. 390,322'

9 Claims. (Cl. 173-361) This invention relates to electric connccterssuch as separable electric connecters and the principal objects of theinvention are to provide a strong and durable connecter structure whichwill be practically unbreakable and which will be particularly adaptedfor heavy duty service as, for instance, in shops and other industrialapplications. 'I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will b e understood byreference to the following specification and accompanying two sheets ,ofdrawings in which I have illustrated a connecter embodying a selectedform of my invention, certain modifications or adaptations being alsoshown.'

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the axis of a connecter,the section being taken in a plane extending through the contact prongs.

Fig. 2 is also a sectional 'view taken through the axis of the connecterbut on a plane at right angles tothe plane of the section of Fig. 1, andcertain parts being .shown in elevation to facilitate illustranon. e I

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4,-4 respectively ofFig. 1.- l

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the connecter of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive asmodified to form a three contact connecter such as is required for threewire circuits, Fig. being an end elevation, Fig. 6 an axial sectionsimilar to Fig. 2,.a`nd Fig. 7 a section on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6.

Figs.v 8 and 9 are sectional illustrations similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of afemale connecter structure embodying the principles of my invention, and

Referring now to the drawings, amale connecter plug embodying thefeatures of my invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and includesa main body part ,I 2 whichgincludes a rear or shank part I3 and afront, casing or housing part I4. The shankpart I3 is tubular as shown,and provided with an openin I5 at its end which is adapted to snugly fita conductor cord I6. In

r the present instance, I contemplate using a rubber or like coveredcord I6 which is substantially circular in cross-section and will snuglyfit the opening I5. i y y The front part of the main body member I2 isin the nature of a recessed or hollowed out enlargement of the shankwhich forms an out .ardly facing shoulder Il at the bottom of therecess, i. e. where the enlarged recessv inthe housing portion meets thebore of the shank. The shoulder portion of the main body part I2 isprovided with sockets suchas I8 for receiving the inner ends I9 ofcontact prongs 20T-20. The inner ends of the contact prongs are -thuspositioned with respect to the main body partand also with respecttoieach other.

The Contact prongs 20 are provided with longitudinally spaced ears2| and22 which extend laterally inwardly from the respective prongs as clearlyshown in Fig. 4. Binding posts or screws 23 engage threaded apertures inthe respective contact prongs, preferably between the ears 2| of each ofthe prongs, these binding posts serving to facilitate connection ofelectric conductors such as 24 to the respective prongs.

Because of the desirable width of the conductor receiving bore in theshank, the inner end portions of the Contact prongs are spaced apartsomewhat more than the standard spacing of contact prongs. In order thatthe outer end portions of ,the prongs be spaced the said standarddistance apart, the contactfprongs are offset inwardly or towards eachother as indicated at 25 so that the outer end portions 26 thereof arebrought into the desired position relative to each other.

For ,further supporting the contact prongs, I provide an auxiliary bodymember 2l which is in the form of a plug adapted to t in the bore orrecess of the casing part Il of the main body member, the said plug partbeing provided with suitable recesses for receiving parts of the contactprongs and with openingsy for permitting the contact prongs to' projectoutwardly from the` outer end of the plug. lAs shown in Figs. 1' to 4inclusive, the-plug 21 is in the form of a cylindrical lower or innerpart 28 and an enlarged outer or top part 29 which is further providedwith an annular rib'30. The rib 30 fits into a groove 3| provided in theouter end of the main body part so that the two body parts areinterlocked, one with the other and thus maintained against separation.Oneof the body parts is made of resilient material such as rubber so asto be capable o'f being distorted to permit assembling of said parts, orboth parts may be made of such resilient material. In the presentinstance, I have shown both body parts as being made of resilient Abovethe comparatively wide recess 32, the plug part 29 is provided withnarrower recesses 34, ap-

proximately the same width as the width of the contact prongs. Therecesses 34 terminate short of the outer end of the plug part so as toleave a comparatively thin end wall portion 35, the latter beingprovided' with openings 36 through which the prongs 20-20 extendoutwardly beyond the end of the plug. 'Ihe reduced width recess 34communicateswith the wide recess 32, incidently forming inwardly ordownwardly facing shoulders such as 31 which are adapted to be engagedby the upper edges of the ears 2l of the contact prong, to thereby limitoutward endwise displacement of the said contact prong. The lower orinner contact prong ears 22 are seated on `the shoulder I1 so as toprevent inward endwise displacement of the prongs and also to preventthe extreme inner'ends of the contact prongs from gradually andcontinuallycutting further and further into the shank.

` The spaced arrangement of the ears 2| and 22 serves to'provideconvenient means for securing the conductor and contact prongs together.As shown in F'igs. 1 and 2, the conductors separate upon leaving themain portion of the conductor, each extending upwardly and through therespective plug recesses inside of the respective contact prongs. Theconductor is brought outwardly between the said ears and across thefront of the contact prong, and then turned inwardly and upwardly whereit is secured to the 'contact prong through the agency of the bindingthe outer and inner body parts is effectively prevented.

In the triple prong connecter structure shown in Figs. 5 to 'Iinclusive, theinner or plug body portion 21a is provided with threerecesses 32 which lreceive contact prongs in substantially the samemanner as the contact prongs are received in the plug part 21 of Figs. 1to 4 inclusive.v However, in a triple prong connecter, two of thelprongs 26a a.nd.26b are arranged with theinwidths extending,transversely of 'radii or parallel with tangents of theplug, and thethird contact prong 26 isA arranged with its width extending radially ofthe plug. The contact prong 26 is twisted intermediate its length andpreferably above the upper ears as indicated at 39 so that the lower orinner portion ofthe contact prong has the same relation to the plug bodyas the inner portions oi the other contact prongs. As shown in Fig. 7,the ears 2li* whichcorrespond to the ears 2l in the structure shown inFigs. 1 to 4, may be bent inwardly'to'ilt snugly in the recesses 32a andthey may be made of such length that they will serve to position theprongs transversely by engaging the bottom ofthe respective recesses.

In Figs. 8 to l0 inclusive, I have'shown a female connecter structurewhich includes an outer body "part 40 similar in general characteristicsto the outer body part I2 of the male connecter'.

structure, contacts of a different type are provided. In this instance,the contacts are in the form of clips which are formed of like butoppositely facing resilient members 42 and 43, the

' lower end portions 'of which are preferably flat spring clips whichwill grip the prongs of a male connecter to form ygood electrical`connection therewith. The fiat lower end portions of the clip members42 and 43 are permanently held in assembled relation bybeing disposedagainst a rigid metal piece 44 which is' provided with ears 45 which arebent inwardly' across the thicknesses of the clip members and thentransversely across the inside face thereof as best shown in Fig.y 8.Binding post screws such as 46, threadedly engaging the rigid metalplate pieces 44 also serve to hold the clip members in assembledrelation as will be readily understood from inspection of Figs. 8 and10.`

'Ihe plug body 4| is provided with recesses 41 for receiving therespective clips, and the outer end of the plug is provided withopenings such as 48 through which the prongs of a male connecter areadapted to be inserted into the recesses 41 and between the clipmembers. 'I'he conductors 49-49 of a duplex conductor cord arerespectively connected to the clips in the recesses 41-41, the

conductors being separated initially by means of a spreader'pa-rt 5Dformed integral with the plug body and then passed upwardly intorecesses such as 5l at opposite sides of the plug, from which 'Irecesses the conductors communicate with the recesses 41-41 throughapertures 52--52 as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

For preventing disassembling of the plug part 4I and body part 40, thesaid parts are provided with interlocking connection which mayconveniently consist oi an'annular flange or rib-like part 53 on theplug 4I, and an inwardly projecting annular flange or rib-like part 54inthe mouth of the main body 40. One or both of the body parts may bemade of resilient insulating machored against outward displacement bybeing seated at theirinner ends on the shoulder 51 in the main body part40 and against outward endwise displacement, partly by engagement attheir outer ends with the inside face of the plug wall,.55

adjacent the openings 48. For further preventing endwise displacement ofthe Contact elements,

the respective contact elements, after which thelatter are positioned inthe recesses of the plug.

vThe plug, with the clip members in its recesses,

is then pressed inwardly into the housing part of the main body, theannular ribs or iianges 54 and 56 yielding suiliciently to permit therib 53 of the` plug and outwardly projecting lips 55 to pass Vthe' same.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a plugstructure in which the parts are firmly supported, and in which there ispractically no danger of breakage due to any contemplated l,areordinarily subjected. I amv aware that changes may be made in the abovedescribed structure without departing from the spirit of my invention,the scope of which should be determined by reference to the followingclaims, construing the same as broadly as possi-A ble consistent withthe state ofthe art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric connecter, the combination of inner and outer bodyparts, the outer part having a recess for receiving the inner part, saidparts having interlocking engagement maintaining the 'same in assembledrelation` and oneI of said body parts being-made of resilient materialso as to be distortable to perrit assembling of said parts in saidinterlocked relation, said inner body part having a longitudinallyextending recess in its inner end portion and an opening in its outerend yportion communicating with said recess, and a contact memberdisposed in said recess and provided with means engaging said inner bodypart at the outer end of said recess and said outer body part at thebottom of the recess therein, thereby to prevent endwise displacement ofthe contact.

2. In an electric connecter, the combination of inner and outer bodyparts, the outer part having a recess for receiving the inner part, saidparts having interlocking engagement for maintaining the same inassembled relation, one of said body parts being made of resilientmaterial `so as to be distortable to permit assembling of said parts insaid interlocked relation, said inner body part having alongitudinallyextending recess in its inner end portion` and aopening inits outer end -portion communicatingwith said recess, a contact membertting in the recess in said inner body part and communicating with theoutside of the connecterthrough said opening, said con- 'tact memberhaving a .pair of longitudinally ofsaid-parts insaid'interlockingengagement,

said plug part being provided with aA longitudinally extending recess inits inner end portion and an opening in'its outer end portion throughwhich said recess communicates with the' outside of the plug, a portionof'said recess being lof tending recesses in its inner end portion and apair of openings in its outer end portion spaced inwardly from theperiphery of the plug part and communicating respectively with saidrecesses, a pair of contact prongs tting respectively in said recessesand extending outwardly through said openings, said plug part being ofmaterially greater length than the spacing. of said outwardly extendingprong portions and said contact prongs having inner end portionsprojecting beyond the inner end of said plug, and said body part beingprovided with recesses for receiving said projecting contact prong innerend portions, said contact prongs being supported by said plug and bodyparts respectively at' points spaced materially longitudinally of thecontact prongs, whereby lateral movement of the prongs toward and fromeach other is effectivelyresisted. y v

5. In an electric connecter, the combination of a main body memberhaving a conductor receiving opening and a portion having a sockettherein spaced laterally from said opening, a contact prong seated insaid socket and projecting thereform, an auxiliary body memberinterlocked with said main body member and provided with a portionspaced longitudinally from said socket containingmain body POrtion andprovided with an opening through which said contact prong projectsoutwardly, said prong being thereby supported at longitudinally spacedpoints, one of said body parts being of resilient material and beingcapable o1' being distorted to permit interlocking of said parts, andlmeans within said interlocked body parts for preventing outward endwisedisplacement of said contact prong, said means comprising longitudinallyspaced, laterally extending ears carried by said i prong, said auxiliaryybody part being provided with an inwardly facing shoulder engaging yoneof said ears and said main body part having an outwardly facing portionengaging the other ear.

6. In an electric connecter, the combination of a main body partincluding a'rear or shank part v and a front or housing part, -saidshank part being apertured to receive a conductor cord and said housingpart having an internal diameter greater than the diameter of said.rcord receiving opening, whereby an outwardly facing shoulder is formedin said main body part, a socket in said"shou1der part, a contact pronghaving its inner .end portion tting in said socket whereby said innerend portion is maintained in predeterg mined position, an auxiliary bodypart constitut- 4 ing a plug fitting in said main body housing part,

greater width than the adjacent upper portion means 'for preventinginward displacement of said contactl members.

4. In an electric connecter, the combinationv of an outer body part ofresilient` insulating material, said part having a recess in one end, aninner body or plug part fitting inthe recess of said outer body part andhaving interlocking engagement therewith, said plug part being providedwith a pair of relatively'spaced and diametrically oppositely disposed,llongitudinally exsaid ,plug being provided with -a longitudinallyextending recess extending from the inner end yo! the plug to a pointadjacent the outer end thereof and with 'an opening in its `outer endportion communicating with said recess, said recess and opening servingto receive the prong, and the outer end'portion of the prong extendingoutwardly through said opening, said main and auxiliary body partsbeingV provided with interlocking means and one of said parts being ofresilient material so as to be capable of being v distorted to permitassembling thereof in said interlocking engagement, and means carried:byi

said contact prong, engaging said main and auxiliary body parts andlocated rnl said auxiliary 70 body part `recess for preventingendwisedisplace-` ment of said prongs.

'7. IIn a device of the class. described, the comv bination of a maincup-shaped body. part having an aperture at'the base-thereof for thepassage *75d of a conductor and having a plurality of relatively spacedsockets also in the base thereof spaced laterally from said aperture,a'plurality of contact prongs having their respective inner.

end portions seated in said sockets and thereby supported againstlateral movement toward and from each other, and an auxiliary body partremovably seated in and interlocked with said main body part adjacentthe rixn thereof, one of said body parts being formed of resilientmaterial so as to be capable ofbeing distorted to permit assembly ofsaid body parts intosaid interlocked relation, and said auxiliary bodypart having a plurality of apertures therein spaced inwardly from' itsperiphery and aligned respectively with said sockets, said prongsextending outwardly through said apertures in spaced, substantiallyparallel relation to each other and. be-

ing maintained against relative spreading and contraction by thecooperative eiect lof said main body lsupport for the inner` end prongportions and said auxiliary body supporti adjacent said outwardlyextending portions.

8. In a connecter plug of the class described, the combination of anouter body or casing part, an inner body part tting inside said casing,said body parts being provided with interlocking means and one of saidparts being made of resilient material capable of being -distorted topermit assembling of said interlocking parts, said inner body part beingprovided with a pair of relatively spaced openings fextendinglongitudinally through said part, the forward end por\ riphery of theinner body part and the rearwardv portions of said openings beingtransversely enlarged relative to the forward end portions, an'd,contact members disposed in said openings and projecting forwardly fromsaid inner body 5 i of a main body member having a conductor receivjingopening and a socket therein spaced laterally from said opening, acontact prong having an end portion seated in said socket and 15projecting therefrom, an auxiliary'body member interlocked with saidmain`body member and having an opening extending longitudinallytherethrough the rearward portion of said opening being transverselyenlarged'relative to the 20 forward portion so as to provide arearwardly facing shouldery in said opening, said contact prong beingdisposed in said opening and extending forwardly through said openingand projecting beyond the front end of the auxiliary 25 body part and.having a laterally extending ear engaging said rearwardly facingshoulder to prevent outward endwise displacement of the prong. O ne ofsaid` body parts being of resilient material and being capable,of beingdistorted 80 to permit the assembly of said parts into interlockedrelation.`

HUGO H. WERMINE.

